The festive season is a peak time for scammers as people are busy with shopping, deliveries, travel plans, and charity giving. Criminals take advantage of this distraction and increased online activity to trick victims into handing over money or sensitive information. According to the UK government’s Stop! Think Fraud campaign, fraudsters aren’t fussy—they’ll target anyone, and emotional manipulation is a common tactic.
Why do scams spike during the holidays?
Fraudsters often taken advantage of festive shopping & delivery messages, spoofing legitimate couriers and sending fake delivery links. The use of urgency “only 2 hours left” builds more pressure to act quickly before thinking. According to the Stop! Think Fraud campaign, holiday stress can often make people more likely to overlook warning signs.
Protect Accounts with Strong Security Measures
- Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Your passwords are like the keys to your house, if someone gets them, they can access everything. The Stop! Think Fraud campaign strongly recommends using unique and hard-to-guess passwords for important accounts like email and banking.
- Enable 2-Step Verification: Also known as two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA), this adds an extra layer of login security. Even if a scammer guesses your password, they won’t be able to access your account without the second step (like a code sent to your phone).
- Keep Devices and Software Updated: Ensuring your devices like laptops, phones, tablets and apps are up to date reduces the risk of malware scams. Using reputable antivirus software also helps protect against malware that could steal credentials or personal information.
How to Spot Common Scam Techniques
Fraudsters often use social engineering—psychological tricks to get you to act without thinking. The government campaign lists a few key tactics to watch for:
- Impersonation of trusted organisations (e.g., banks or parcel services)
- Deepfakes or fake IDs to make a message seem real
- False urgency pushing you to act immediately
Always pause and ask: Does this really make sense? Am I expecting this?
Find more details from the government on how to spot suspicious activity here.
Other Common Types of Scams
- Phone Scams: If someone calls claiming to be from your bank or a delivery company asking for personal or financial details, hang up. Genuine organisations never ask you to transfer money or share passwords over the phone. To check the legitimacy of the call, always call back using an official number from your statement or company website, not the number the caller provided.
- Online Shopping and Booking Services: Avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts about orders or deals. If booking gifts or travel, visit the retailer or booking site directly instead of following links. It is generally recommended to avoid paying by bank transfer, and use bank cards instead as these offer better fraud protection.
What To Do If You Think You’ve Been Scammed?
According to the 2024 Crime Survey from England and Wales, 1 in 16 adults in England and Wales were victims of fraud in just one year.
If you suspect fraud:
- Stop, disconnect, and don’t respond further.
- Report it- Report Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, you can access it online here.
- Get support if you’ve lost money or data, and know you’re not alone: Stop! Think Fraud outlines how to access support after a scam here.
